Malaysia steps up anti-corruption battle: PM - AFP

Malaysia's prime minister Monday said he would boost the powers of the country's anti-corruption agency in a bid to step up the battle against graft.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's announcement comes amid growing calls to clamp down on corruption in the country, one of the issues that led many voters to switch sides in recent elections.

"My government will restructure the anti-corruption agency... to become a full-fledged Malaysian Commission on Anti-Corruption," Abdullah said.

"To enhance its effectiveness, transparency and public accountability the new commission structure will be set up to include a system of effective checks and balances," he added.

"It is my fervent hope that by restructuring the (agency), its effectiveness, transparency and accountability will be considerably raised while public trust in its integrity and independence will be quickly renewed."

The agency, currently under Abdullah's office, will report to a new parliamentary committee on corruption prevention.

[More at http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1351714]